JUDGE NOT! YA JERK!

Standing in line outside at the REDBOX, waiting to rent something mindless, a thoroughly pimped out pickup truck pulled into a parking space next to where I stood, stereo BLASTING. Yes, some sort of rap replete with all manner of obscenities, vulgarities, profanities and apparently an extensive lexicon of the reproductive components of both women and men.  The "music" loud enough to be heard literally across the state while his windows were yet rolled up.  Literally, across the state.

Out jumps a young fellow (young to me anyway) in his late twenties / early thirties, tatted up with skulls, demons, cars and I think I saw one that was an exquisitely detailed C-3PO.  In front of me were several people in line, the hardcore looking guy at the REDBOX was renting "Brave."  From my peripheral vision I could see the young tatted pickup dude was maneuvering to cut in line in front of me.  I began to get angry. "OH NO!  I don't think so!" screaming in my head.  Stealthfully, I took back my territory, easing my way forward and to the left to block his maneuver.  I kept thinking to myself, "this guy........", never finishing the thought, yet still rolling my eyes in derision.  When it was my turn, I began to step towards the box, when the tat-covered offender spoke to me and said this:

"Excuse me, I was wondering, if it's not to much trouble, if I might go ahead of you?  I'm just returning this movie and I'm late getting home to dinner.  Would that be okay?"  The gentleness in his tone of voice combined with, what I sensed was, humility not expectation, stunned me for a moment.

My hardened heart relented, the scales falling off my eyes (literally), and kindness overcoming and convicting me of being an asshat, I said, "Sure.  Please go ahead."  He did. When finished, he looked me in the eye and said, "Thank you. I really do appreciate it." Returning to the obscenity mobile, he drove off.  His articulate and gracious words ping-ponging about my brain.

I had judged him.  I. Judged. Him.

The Bible speaks of judging, Jesus words of instruction saying "Do Not Judge Others."

On the other hand, there are many instances where judgement is advocated:

• Acts 6: "select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom."
• 1 Timothy 3:  The qualifications of an Elder
• 1 Corinthians 5: 12: 13:  Judging those in the church, but not outsiders
• Galatians 3: Paul called the entire church at Galatia "foolish"

Clearly, those of us who commit to a community of believers are opening ourselves up, not to random criticism, but to accountability, and therefore, judgment.  If we're not open to that, then we're in the wrong place. Christians, especially leaders, need objective accountability.

But, that's not what I did.  I judged this guy's character, his heart, his motives.  I determined his worth based on MY expectations and based on my life experience.  I gave him no chance to be a person of value simply because he wasn't like me.

Judging others is a way to curse them in some ways.  It's finding things that offend us, that don't fit within what we see as acceptable, then shoving that person into a box (literally); a box which forces them as they grow, to grow into the shape WE believe is right for them. It forces them to become something they were never designed to be.  Judgment finds the worst,

not the best. It keeps us safe, and keeps others distant.  It is an evil, cloaked literally in righteousness.

I have a friend who judged people with tattoos; judged them harshly. Convicted of her judgmental heart, she went out and got a tattoo herself, as a way to cast herself with those she judged.  She became one of them and in so doing, opened herself up to a whole new world of people, people to whom she could love, care for, know, and "be" Jesus.

I am so judgmental, I painfully confess and repent.  

I judge people who use the word "literally" incorrectly. Uggh. While on earth, Jesus was an advocate for the people the "church" (and I) would judge.  I long to be an advocate, not a literal asshat.